Utrecht fills void with new symphony orchestra

New launch after 24 years

UTRECHT - The Netherlands is set to gain a new symphony orchestra. Since the demise of the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra in 1985, the central Dutch city has been without a professional orchestra of its own. The new 42-piece orchestra, the New Utrecht Philharmonic, has procured municipal and provincial funding as well as private sponsorship.

Led by conductor and violinist Johannes Leertouwer, the orchestra will perform two to three concert series a year, beginning next month.

The Netherlands has a number of orchestras of which many are based in Amsterdam: Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, founded in 1888, Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, 1955, Amsterdam Wind Orchestra ATH, 1906, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, 1985, The Beau Hunks, 1982, Netherlands Wind Ensemble, NBE, 1959.

The others include: Residentie Orchestra, 1904, The Hague, The Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, 1930s, Enschede, Limburg Symphony Orchestra, the country’s oldest, 1883, Andre Rieu’s Johann Strauss Orchestra, 1987 (Maastricht), Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, 1918, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, 1945, Hilversum.